Salt and Prednisone
Posted , 10 users are following.
I was diagnosed with PMR in December last and after doing a bit of research decided that I would reduce my intake of carbs as I felt this might help reduce the inflammation. Being a life-long serious cyclist I've found this fairly counter-intuitive as it's always been 'carbs, carbs, carbs!' but nevertheless I persevered and after reading a fair bit I've come to feel that this is definitely the way to go and would definitely follow a low-carb, high-fat lifestyle even if I wasn't sick. I don't know if it helps with the inflammation but I definitely have more energy when I'm strict with myself. In fact more and more professional athletes (particularly endurance athletes) are going LCHF so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me...
I'm now considering going full-on Keto but one of the things that's recommended is to take additional salt, whereas because of the Prednisone I've been told to cut out salt. Does anyone else here follow a Keto diet (for example I've read that you're very low-carb Eileen) and if so do you take extra salt? In fact why is it recommended that we don't add salt? I was under the impression it was to prevent water retention and weight gain; is that correct?
Thanks in advance.
0 likes, 28 replies
nick67069 lazyslug
Posted
nick67069
Posted
if you google "low carb diet and endurance training", you will find that it is very controversial subject. I am just reading one with title "Should Endurance Athletes Go Keto? Ketosis and Ketogenic Diets for Endurance Athletes"... Check it out...
lazyslug nick67069
Posted
Hi nick - you're correct of course but my days of racing are over I think - I did an FTP test a couple of weeks ago and it has basically collapsed! At the moment I'm keeping my effort low as I don't want to stress my body too much and hopefully one day I'll be able to resume training. My query was more about the fact that the kidneys don't retain salt in the same way when one is in nutritional ketosis and it's advisable to add salt to the diet. Obviously too little salt is harmful just as too much is. I used to hate training - so today's lesson is: 'be careful what you wish for!'
lazyslug nick67069
Posted
There's a load of stuff to read and basically it's a case of 'you pays your money and you takes your choice'. I've made the decision to drastically reduce my carbs and although I couldn't say that it's helped with the inflammation there's no doubt in my mind that it's reduced the fatigue. Like you I've never had a problem with weight (I'm 179cm and 66k, so pretty lean) but I do wonder if my generous consumption of carbs over the years has in some way contributed to this condition. We shall never know!
nick67069 lazyslug
Posted
what I forgot to add is that with PMR it would be a very dangerous to expose muscles to max load, since the muscle rebuilding process is impaired by (high dose) of prednisone. So for us ( PMR club people) it is an academic issue
and yes, you are correct, racing is out.
For the record, I have kept the same diet as before PMR, with 50-60% carbs, and had no issue with weight, but I do 4-5 hours/week of "decent" exercise, and walk daily... My view on special diets are pretty negative, because usually they cannot be sustained for long time. One banana will kick you out of "full-on Keto" ... hard to be that disciplined ( at least for me).
EileenH nick67069
Posted
I have no problem resisting a banana... But being totally carb free is hard in many ways. I can manage 30g per day no problem though - and that isn't much!
nick67069 EileenH
Posted
I listed banana because it is one of the favorite biker's snack while on a long ride. I dont' eat as much bread any more, because here main staple food is rice ( and no gluten, not that it bother me either way). PMR is hard enough for me, I don't wont to impose any additional limitations to my lifestyle. I can understand that some people cut carbs for a reason, like weight issue or diabetics or something else. I can't say that I have any reason to change diet and I like to indulge in sweets, chocolate and glass of wine or three... Giving up carbs would change that.
EileenH nick67069
Posted
I cut my carbs majorly - but I still drink wine and have the odd square of 85% chocolate. Never bothered about sweets either. But I cut them enough not to gain weight - have to be harsher about it to lose weight now.
sandy65909 EileenH
Posted
How can you eat just one square of chocolate? My minimum is 4. I find having none is easier.
Saw the rhuematologist. Better blood markers. She wants me to decrease 2 mg per week. Today went from 20 mg to 18...101/2 at 5:00 am and 71/2 later at 3:00 pm. I'm a bit scared. I realize I can go up. Still wake up with varying degrees of arm pain. She thinks I may have bursitis in my shoulder and if pain continues may need cortisone shot. Those shots kill and I have enough pain as it is.
EileenH sandy65909
Posted
Because I eat 85% cocoa solids plain chocolate - the chances of you eating 4 squares of that are pretty low!!!!
If you have bursitis in your shoulder (or hips) which are associated with PMR, by far the best way to deal with it is a steroid injection. They don't kill - they bring speedy relief!
lazyslug
Posted